Impact recorder



Feb. 4, 1930.

J. B. 'BASKERVILLE IMPACT. RECORDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 3. 1926 Qwuantoz b- 4, 930. J. B. BASKERVILLE 2 IMPACT RECORDER Filed July 3. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 AII\\\\\\\\ gwwmtoz film/B. BmsKERvILLE,

awfi Patented Feb. 4, 1930 UNITED STATES P ENT OFFICE JOHN B. B ASKERVILLE, F ROANOKE, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR TO IMPACTOGRAPH COR- PORATION, OF ROANOKE, VIRGINIA, A CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA.

IMPACT RECORDER Application filed m 3,.1926. Serial No. 120,339. s

The present invention'consists of an impactograph and is designed as an improvement over my issued Patent #1,577,160, hav ing for an object the provision of recording mechanism which is actuated in response to impacts sustained byQrailway rolling stock while in transit.

Another object of the invention is to provide highly sensitive and selective mechanism which promptly responds to impacts and effects a record thereof when the impacts are of predetermined intensity.

A coordinate object of the invention is to provide. a mechanism which promptly responds to impacts of predetermined intensity to make a record thereof, successive records being made-as the intensity of the impacts is increased.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the present preferred forms of the invention accordance with this invention.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view thereof; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the marker abutment used in the form of invention illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5'. The present invention embodies a casing 7 which may be of any desired configuration and may be made of wood, metal or other suitable material. In the present instance the casing consists of two hingedly connected parts, the lid of the casing shown in Fig. 2

. being provided with an opening 8 in one side thereof for a purpose hereinafter set forth.

The lid of the casing shown in Fig. 4 is provided with openings 9 in the ends thereof for a purpose which will also be hereinafter set forth.

The impactograph as an entirety consists of mechanism mounted in the casing 7 which embodies certain-elements oriparts which are movable by impacts sustained, thereby in order to impinge against record receiving means so that the means will bear indicia corresponding to the time the impact was sustained and the severity of the impact. This mechanism consists of a frame generally designated 10 which may be made of metal or like material. In the form of invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 the frame embodies a base equipped with'an inverted U shape superstructure 11. The sides of the superstructure fixedly receive the terminals of an axle or shaft 12 which latter has pivotally mounted thereon a series of segmental arms 13. The upper end of each arm issues into a segment 14 which has a portion of its periphery removed, approximately midway its ends, to provide a depression 15. The lower end of the segment isequipped with a discal weight 16, the discs varying in diam.- eter and correspondingl varying in weight. Each disc has a stud 1 extended from its periphery at a point diametrically opposite to the segmental arm. This stud is adapted for connection with one end of a helical spring 18, the opposite end of said spring be ing engaged with a stud 19, which rises upwardly from the base of the frame 10. The ab-utments 13 are suitably spaced by collars 20 as illustrated in Fi 2.

The mechanism T111516! embodiesa record receiving means which in the ,present instance embodies a roller 21 upon which paper or other indiciareceiving flexible means 22 is mounted. ,The paper 22 or like means is adapted to be trained across the upper faces of the segments 14 and has its free end engaged with a take-up drum 23. This drum is rotated by suitable clock mechanism 24; the stem of which latter projects as indicated at 25, adapted for the reception of a key which may be inserted through the opening 8 in the top of the casing in order to wind the clock mechanism.

The sides of the framelO are provided, ad-

j acent the vertex thereof, with vertically ex= tending slots 24 which receive the opposite reduced terminals 25 of a marker abutment 26. The abutment 26 is V-shape in cross section and has the apex thereof arranged to lie in close proximity to the paper 22 directly above the depression 15 in the se nients 14.

The marker 26 normally lies at the ase of the slots 24 but may be moved vertically therein under pressure of the segments, in a manner. hereinafter set forth. The upward movement of the marker is limited, however, by reason of the ex ansive forces of sprin s 27 which encircle t e pins 28 that depend rom the vertex of the frame 10 and have the lower ends thereof deposited in openings 29 which are formed in the top of the marker.

In the use of this form of marker it is customary to detachably secure the impactograph in its entirety to the floor of a freight car and to have the clock mechanism start at precisely the time that the rolling stock' starts to move. This winds the paper .22 on the take-u drum. If desired, the paper may be suitab y graduated so that the time of the occurrence of impacts can be immediately discerned by a glance at the paper roll. If desired, the paper 22 may be sensitized or ordinary paper with interposed carbon sheets may be used, or if desired ordina paper may be used and the marker 26 either made of a graphic substance or equipped with a graphic means. So long as the rolling stock is not subjected to undue impacts no mark will be made on the paper 22 because of the absence of pressure thereon midway the ends of the segments. However, just as soon as undue impacts are sustained the weights or pendulums 16 will be displaced thereby correspondingly moving the segments .14, cansing the paper to be moved upwardly into en-' gagement with the marker 26. If only a slight im act above normal is sustained,.the largest o the weights only will be moved to a point whereby the paper will be brought into contact w1th the marker. The other weights will be selectively displaced, however, as the severity of the impacts increases.

When the impacts are very severe the marker 26 will be elevated against the resistance of the springs 27 in order to prevent binding or breakage of the parts. It is consequently apparent that this mechanism insures the making of a prompt record of the impact and positively avoids the possibility of the wardly at right angles to provide flanges 30, each of which pivotally carries a pa er clamp? ing member 31. Mounted throng the sides of .the frame 10" approximately midway the ends thereof, is a shaft 32 which has pivotally mounted thereon, a plurality of pendulum -or weight carrying arms 33, the lower end ofshaft 32 and is provided with a de ending leg 36, the lower end of which is bi urcated and the branches 37 of the bifurcation straddled across the lug 34. Upon reference to Fig. 4 of the drawings it will be noted that each of the members 35 is provided with an angular slot 38 in which the shaft-32 is nrovably' mounted. Furthermore, correspondingly shaped slots 39 are formed in each of the members 35 near the ends of the latter, which receive guide pins 40 carried by the sides of the frame 10'. The upper ends of the arms 33 are spaced in a suitable manner from the sides ofthe channel members 35 and the latter spaced. from one another in an a parent manner. Manifestly, as one oftl ie weights 16' moves on the shaft 32 the channel member is correspondingly moved, the limit of movement being coextensive with the len th of the slots 3.8 and 39.

- pward movement of the channel members 35 causes them to impinge against a record sheet 41 which may be made of sensitized paper or may be'made of ordinary paper with carbon sheets interposed therebetween.- This paper spans the distance transversely across the sides of the frame lO'and is secured to the tops of the flanges 30'by the clampin members 31.

It is desired that upward movement of the paper 41 willcause impingement of the same against an abutment or scriber in order that a record may be made on the sheet and for this purpose suitable abutment or scriber 42 is movably mounted upon a screw shaft.

43. One end of the screw shaft is journaled in one end of the frame 10' while the opposite end isjournaled in the opposite end of the frame and extends appreciably therebeyond for insertion in and operative connection with a clock mechanism 44. The stem of the clock mechanism 44 is accessible through one of theopenings 9, while one end of the shaft 43 is accessible through the opposite opening 9. Cons uently the clock' mechanism may be woun and the scriber or abutment 42 may be moved rever'sely on .a threaded bore which as impacts of but I reserve the shaft 43 at the option of the user. The scriber or abutment consists generally of a frame 45 which in the present instance is shown to be of oblon configuration and has the lower end thereo formed to provide an elongated abutment member 46 V shape in cross section. A. boxing'4 7 1s fioatmgliyxmounted in the frame 45 and is provided wl receives. the threaded shaft '43. a A coil s rin 48 is interposed between the boxing 4 an the top of. the frame 45 in order to normally force the abutment 46 downwardly toward the record sheet 31; -A pin 49 issues from the .top of the frame 45 and is positioned to ride in a slot 50 which is formed in the longitudinal axis of a bar 51. The opposite ends of the bar 51 are anchored on the ends of the framelOfl Y Since the abutment or scriber-istime operated it is manifest thatthe time'of the-occurrence of impacts may be learned from the record sheet '31. Theintensity of the impfcts is learned by the location ofithe mar 1 or marks made on 'the record sheet-when any one of the channel members 36- .caus'es the record sheet tobe brought into contact with the abutment or scriber In view of thespring 48 not only will the-marker beheld in close proximity to the stock including a series of the record sheet path of movement of said record sheet engaging'means whereby movement of any one of the weights-urges the sheet-into engage.- ment with the abutment; for marking the sheet. v 3; An impaetograph for railway rolling endulum elements unequal in size for unip aner displacement by forces of unequal intensity, arecord sheet mounted adjacent the pendulums, an abutment mounted-in parallel relation to and pendulumswhereby movement of any one of the latter will urge the record sheet against the abutment.

'4. An impact recorder for railway rolling stock including displaceable means e uipped with an indioia. receiving embodying a plurality of, elements selectively displaceable by forces increasing an intensity,

lof said elements and a marker common to al and operable by movement of any gne ofthe latter to mark said medium.

"In testimo'rjiy whereof I aflix my si sheet-at all times i but in addition bindingor breakage of .the

parts will be prevented when im acts or unusual severity are sustained. he weights 16' function in precisely the same manner as the weights 16 in the form of invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3, their movement being selective in correspondence to the intensity of the impactsustained. Furthermore, the

weights are immediatelydisplaced as soon" predetermined intensity are sustained by the rollingstock so'that a record is positively made of the impact eventhoughthe duration thereof be'very-short-lived.

It is believed to be manifest from the above, that the time o the occurrence of an impact will be promptl recorded and the severity'of the-impact l' ewise re-- corded. I am of course aware that numerous changes may be made in view of the teaohings of the present forms of my invention,

come within the scope of the claims ereto appended.

What I claim is:

therefone,

the right to such chan es as.

means operable in sequence to impacts and:

medium, sai means a 

